Our personal injury team secured a six figure settlement for our client, Liam*, after he sustained serious injuries in a road collision.

Liam’s story

In January 2023, Liam was a rear seat passenger in a car travelling from London to Hertfordshire.

The car was involved in a collision at around 10pm when the driver lost control of the car at speed. The car left the motorway, crashing through a barrier and fence before colliding with trees. It finally came to rest in a wooded area across from the M1.

As a result of the crash, Liam sustained a serious neck injury, namely a type-2 odontoid peg fracture. He also sustained scarring to his head, scalp, and neck. Liam has since experienced psychological symptoms including low mood, anxiety, nightmares, flashbacks, and sleep problems.

He was taken by ambulance to the Royal Free Hospital. Scans were taken and his neck was put in a brace. He was followed up at the Royal London Hospital and was advised he’d need surgery as the fracture hadn’t fused in the months since the accident. Liam underwent C1/C2 spinal fusion surgery in May 2023. His neck brace was finally removed during this surgery.

A CT scan in September 2023 showed that, while Liam had made a good level of recovery, there was a permanent degree of restricted movement in his neck.

Liam was a fan of mixed martial arts (MMA). Due to his cervical fracture, and the contact nature of MMA, he’s been advised not to participate in the sport and that returning to MMA fighting at any point would pose a risk to his health.

How did we help?

Liam approached us in the spring of 2023 for help.

The driver of the car at the time of the accident wasn’t covered by the vehicle’s insurance policy. The policy was with Esure.

We secured a copy the police report, which confirmed the driver of the car lost control while trying to pick up his vape from the footwell. He was convicted at Willesden Magistrates Court for Driving Without Due Care and Attention and No Insurance.

Due to Liam’s need for rehabilitation, we commissioned our own initial needs assessment (INA) report. This was served on Esure with a request for an interim payment.

Esure responded with an offer of settlement. This was an early offer. It would’ve been difficult to assess the offer without evidence, but we’d already obtained an early medical report from an orthopaedic expert. This helped to address the early offer and we were able to quantify Liam’s claim and advise him on the offer.

Following negotiations and in line with Liam’s wishes to try and bring the claim to an end, we put forward a counteroffer. This was accepted in early 2024.

Expert comment

Rita Alsoof, a solicitor in our Personal Injury team, represented Liam. Commenting on his case, she said: “It’s very satisfying to know that we were able to secure a six figure settlement for Liam in less than an year. This is going to be pivotal in getting him the therapy and rehab he needs to continue to optimise his recovery and move onto the next chapter of his life.

“He sustained a serious spinal injury through someone else’s carelessness. While he has some ongoing needs, the compensation awarded to him will help to ensure these needs will be met properly. I hope this is a lesson to all drivers, whether they’re carrying passengers or not, that negligence can have a serious impact on the lives of others.”

If you’ve been involved in a road traffic accident, speak to our specialist solicitors about making a claim today.

*Client's name has been changed to preserve anonymity.

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